Chevron Supports 2-1-1 Bay Area Expansion with $1 Million Contribution

press release

Chevron Supports 2-1-1 Bay Area Expansion with $1 Million Contribution

Community Helpline Brings Economic Benefit and Critical Crisis Support Role to Bay Area

SAN RAMON, Calif., Feb. 28, 2007 -- Chevron Corp. today announced its support for United Way of the Bay Area's (UWBA) expansion of a regional 2-1-1 service, the 24-hour community information line that links communities with services, with a $1 million contribution.

Peter Robertson, Chevron vice chairman, said: "We applaud United Way of the Bay Area for spearheading the expansion of this vital service across the region. 2-1-1 plays a crucial role in supporting communities, particularly in crisis situations, such as an earthquake, by linking people with community services and reducing the burden on emergency services. Chevron's 6,400 Bay Area employees will benefit directly from the important community referral service that 2-1-1 provides."

In addition to providing access to hundreds of nonprofits that provide services such as food, shelter and counseling, 2-1-1 is also an integral component of disaster-response infrastructure. The toll-free, multilingual 2-1-1 service serves as a vital link for individuals seeking to volunteer, provide resources and assist during times of crisis. After Hurricane Katrina, calls to Texas' 2-1-1 system increased from 2,500 daily to more than 10,000 daily as hurricane victims sought shelter, food and other assistance. In the three weeks after Katrina, Texas 2-1-1 assisted more than 170,000 callers.

"From disasters like Hurricane Katrina, to everyday calls for after school programs and flu-shot information, 2-1-1 has proved its importance," said Anne Wilson, CEO of UWBA. "Chevron's generous gift will help United Way expand access to this invaluable tool to more Bay Area residents, and I want to extend my thanks to Chevron for supporting 2-1-1 across the region."

The 2-1-1 service also brings economic benefits. According to United Way, for every dollar spent on 2-1-1, the positive benefit to society is $1.34. These savings come in the form of reduced non-emergency calls to 9-1-1 and more efficient human services planning.

Chevron Corporation is one of the world's leading energy companies. With more than 55,000 employees, Chevron subsidiaries conduct business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing and distributing fuels and other energy products. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information on Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.